Kimi an asset for Ferrari, a ‘very correct guy’

“There is a lot of misinformation about my new team-mate. You read things I said that I didn’t actually say. I think he can be an important asset to the team next year,” Alonso told reporters during a Santander event in Madrid.

“Between Kimi and I, with 12 years of experience [each], that can help us develop the car in certain aspects that are new.

“I can’t give an opinion about Kimi because I don’t know him. There are others who can give opinions about others without knowing them, but I can’t.

“And having not shared a team with him, or having never spent more than 10 minutes with him, I can’t say what he’s like or who he is.

“With Felipe I shared four years and he was a good person, and we worked for Ferrari together in an efficient and professional way. I think Kimi will be the same, but it’s hard to give an opinion now.

“It’s important that we work together and that a red car, whichever it is, crosses the finish line first.”

Although Ferrari endured a difficult 2013 and was no match for the dominant Red Bull, Alonso thinks there is reason to be confident for next year.

“This year we had a sad or disastrous year, according to some people,” he said. “I think the reason to be more optimistic next year is that I’m at Ferrari, which is a top team which can do great things.”

“I think Fernando knows that he drives not for himself but for Ferrari, and Raikkonen knows that he is in the second half of his career, and [there are] two very important years for him in front. Experience, responsibilities.”

The president expects Raikkonen to make a bigger difference to Ferrari’s title prospects than predecessor Felipe Massa was able to in recent years.

“I think that the main reason why I am positive is because Kimi in particular in the races is very strong, so will be in condition to get points off even some of Fernando’s competitors to get points for the team.

“And he is a very correct guy. Since he has been with us we have not got even one moment of problems.

“They are responsible and I think the presence of Kimi will be extremely important and useful to not leave Fernando alone at the front of the grid to fight from the first lap to the end.

“[Stefano] Domenicali has spoken very clear to both of them, and they have the honour and the responsibility to drive for Ferrari.

“Every driver while I have been here knows that he has to drive not for himself but for the team.

“If some driver wants to drive for himself there are many possibilities, they can do their own team, they can go in a different team, but in Ferrari these are the rules – and that is very clear.”

5 thoughts on “Kimi an asset for Ferrari, a ‘very correct guy’”

Kimi is going to bring Ferrari in the championship of manufacturers. No doubt!
If Alonso is serious will soon have to support Kimi because is the only one to fight Red Bulls. I am very positive that Kimi will become the champion in 2014

Time will tell.. but all these comments from Monty should make all us Kimi fans very nervous indeed. With every passing day this rallying and praising of Alonso gets louder. First of all Alonso has upper hand because of having put in a lot of input into developing the new car — as he wants it. Even if they are allowed to race with Kimi first few races, I’m not sure Kimi has time to ask changes he needs from the car. And then, asking is one thing, but will they do these changes or push for Alonso? Again, given LdM comments it seems there is no question..